Chosen as the Cursed Alpha's Seventh Bride

Emilia’s POV

I turned to find the woman from the shopping center, the one whose wallet I’d returned. She looked just as put-together as before, in a cream gown with her hair swept up.

"Hi!" I said, genuinely pleased. "I didn’t expect to see you here."

"Same." She smiled and nodded at the empty seat beside me. "May I?"

"Of course."

She settled into the chair with a glass of champagne. For a moment we just looked at each other, and then we both spoke at once.

"The wallet—"

"The shopping center—"

We laughed.

"You first," I said.

"I was going to say, you looked familiar when I walked in, but I couldn’t place you." She tilted her head. "Then I saw you sitting here and it clicked. You’re the young woman who returned my wallet."

"Guilty," I said, grinning. "And you’re the lady who dropped it."

"Also guilty." She held out her hand. "We never properly introduced ourselves. Claudine Tucker."

I shook it. "Emilia Taylor."

"What an elegant name." She smiled. "You can call me Auntie Claudine."

"Of course. Auntie." I nodded and stood. "Let me grab us some more dessert."

"Please do."

I came back with two plates, and we settled onto the corner sofa, eating and talking.

"Miss Taylor," Claudine said, "do you have a boyfriend? I feel like we really click. Let me set you up with someone. My son. He’s very handsome."

I nearly choked on a strawberry. I waved a hand quickly. "Oh, no, I’m actually married."

"Married?" Claudine looked genuinely surprised. "You look so young. That’s early."

"It is. I only got married this year."

"What a shame. And here I was, all ready to introduce you to my son."

I gave a shy laugh. "Thank you, Auntie. With a mother like you, I’m sure your son will find himself a wonderful wife."

"Ha. You certainly know what to say."

"Auntie, are you a businesswoman?"

"I am. I ran a business overseas for years. I only came back recently."

"No wonder. You have that independent air about you."

"You flatter me. Truly, Miss Taylor, you and I get along. You’ll have to come to my home for dinner sometime."

Remembering how she’d just tried to set me up with her son, I felt a little awkward. "That’s very kind of you..."

Claudine seemed to read my mind and laughed. "Don’t worry. I live alone. I’m divorced. My son lives with his father."

I’d stumbled onto a sore spot without meaning to. "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry."

"If you didn’t mean anything by it, then I’ll take that as a yes. This weekend, seven o’clock. Come to the Peaceful Bay Resort. That’s my new home."

"Well, then I’d better do as I’m told."

It was hard to say no to an invitation that warm, so I accepted.

At nine-thirty, the banquet finally started winding down. I said my goodbyes to Xelia and slipped out before anyone could pull me into another conversation.

Sebastian’s car pulled up. He got out and walked toward me.

"How was it?" he asked, sliding his arm around my waist.

"Not terrible," I admitted. "Though I’m starving. The food at these things is never enough."

He laughed. "Greedy little thing."

"Your greedy little thing," I corrected, poking his chest. "Now take me somewhere with real food before I eat you instead."

"Tempting." He opened the car door for me. "But I think I’d rather keep you fed and happy."

"Smart man."

As we drove off, Sebastian glanced at me. "So, did you make any new friends?"

"Actually, yes. I ran into someone I met at the shopping center the other day. Didn’t expect to see her again tonight."

"What’s her name?" he asked.

"Claudine Tucker."

"Claudine?" Sebastian thought for a moment. "I don’t think I’ve heard the name."

"She said she used to do business abroad. Only came back recently."

"Oh." He nodded, unbothered, and started the engine, pulling into traffic.

I watched the lights flashing past the window, then said, out of nowhere, "Auntie Claudine mentioned she wanted to introduce me to some guy tonight."

The brakes screeched.

Sebastian stamped on them hard. Good thing we’d kept our seatbelts on, or we’d have gone through the windshield.

"What is wrong with you?" I glared at him. "Why would you brake like that?"

"She wanted to set you up with some guy." His voice was tight, his eyes dark with something that looked a lot like jealousy. "What did you tell her?"

"I said..." I dragged it out. "I said..."

I let him hang there on purpose. I knew exactly how anxious he was, and I still wanted to wind him up before letting him off the hook.

"What did you say?"

"Let me think about it."

That was the last straw for him. His hand shot out, closed around the back of my neck, and he kissed me. It came hard and fast, all control and no mercy. Exactly like him.